What is the Northern Plains Commerce Centre?

The Northern Plains Commerce Centre will be a world-class transportation hub and industrial park, providing companies that compete in today’s just-in-time global economy with an efficient network of various transportation modes, centered in one highly organized facility.

What is a multimodal facility?

A multimodal facility is a place where freight is consolidated to take advantage of many modes of transportation. Typically, these facilities involve rail and truck transportation. Bismarck’s facility will also include air transportation.

What does this mean for the Bismarck-Mandan region?

Companies in this region will now be able to compete on a global level due to their ability to ship/import their products much more competitively. Access to seaports via rail will give companies the unique ability to use the quality labor pool of Bismarck/Mandan and take advantage of the competitive transportation rates and services.

What is the potential economic benefit to the region?

National and international companies who previously could not locate in Bismarck due to increased shipping costs caused by our geographic location will now be able to situate here and remain competitive in the global marketplace. Bismarck could experience a significant growth in jobs from new companies locating here and savings on consumer products that are currently shipped in by truck.

How soon will it happen?

The first phase of the project, which includes the mainline rail and spur to the Bobcat Manufacturing Support Center, road construction and water and sewer installation, was completed in the fall of 2006. Phase two included extending the rail into the center and construction of the transload and intermodal rail yard as well as a maintenance facility. The facility is offering limited rail service now.  Construction will be complete on July 31, 2008.

Where is the money for the project coming from?

The project is expected to cost $25 million. The funding is a combination of contributions from City of Bismarck, United States Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Economic Development Administration, and the Bismarck Vision Fund.

Where will all of this be located?

The proposed facility will be constructed in the city-owned Airport Industrial Park located in south Bismarck, adjacent to the Bismarck Municipal Airport.

Can our current railroads, highways, and airport carriers accommodate the anticipated increase in freight generated by this commerce center?

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) has been working closely with the city during the planning process. BNSF has the capacity on their existing route through Bismarck to handle the increased freight. Our local highway system will not experience significant growth in traffic, but will experience a shift in the types of freight that trucks will be handling. Currently the Bismarck Airport has very little air freight. The Northern Plains Commerce Centre will allow the airport to pursue this new source of revenue.